Colostrum: 6 things to know

Practical guide

• What exactly is colostrum?
• How long does colostrum last, and how much of it do you produce?
• What are the benefits of colostrum? What's in it?
• Can you collect and store your colostrum before the birth? How do you do it?
• What if I have little or no colostrum? Does that mean I won't be able to breastfeed?
• Does colostrum matter if I don't want to breastfeed? Can you give only colostrum?

What exactly is colostrum?

Colostrum is the very first breast milk, produced during pregnancy and in the first few days after your baby is born. A near-twin of mature milk, it's actually quite different: thicker and creamier, and its colour ranges from pale yellow to orange. It's often called "liquid gold" because it's packed with nutrients and antibodies that are essential to a newborn's health.

💡 Worth noting: colostrum production sometimes begins as early as the second trimester of pregnancy, well before the birth.

Very small amounts at first: at birth, the breasts produce roughly 2 to 20 ml of colostrum per feed, but that's plenty for your baby.

Texture and taste: colostrum has a fairly thick, sticky texture. It tastes slightly sweet and slightly salty — perfectly suited to a newborn's palate.

A key role in immunity: it primes your baby's gut flora and passes on the antibodies they need to fight off infection.

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How long does colostrum last, and how much of it do you produce?

Colostrum production sometimes starts as early as the second half of pregnancy and continues for 48 to 96 hours after the birth, before gradually giving way to transitional milk.

🍼 You don't need to produce huge amounts: a baby's tiny stomach is built for very small amounts. On day one, for instance, it's about the size of a cherry (5 to 7 ml).

Day after birth	Capacity of a baby's stomach	Average colostrum production
Day 1	5–7 ml (a cherry)	2–10 ml per feed
Day 2	10–13 ml	5–15 ml per feed
Day 3–4	22–27 ml	15–30 ml per feed It's the gradual transition to mature milk.

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What are the benefits of colostrum? What's in it?

Colostrum acts as a kind of immune shield for your newborn, along with nutrients perfectly matched to their body.

The main benefits of colostrum:

• Immunity: it holds an exceptional amount of antibodies and leukocytes (white blood cells) to protect your baby against bacterial and viral infections.
• Helps things move through: thanks to its laxative properties, it helps your baby pass meconium (those very dark first stools) quickly, which lowers the risk of jaundice.
• Supports the maturing of the digestive tract: it coats and protects the lining of the gut, making it harder for pathogens to get in.
• Healing and development: rich in growth factors, colostrum supports cell repair and tissue growth.
• Nutrition tailored to your baby: it contains proteins, vitamins (A, E, K, B12), zinc, sodium and potassium, and less fat than mature milk, which makes it easier to absorb.

In terms of composition, colostrum is far more concentrated than mature milk. It contains up to 10 times more antibodies ! Being so rich in immunoglobulins (IgA in particular) makes it a milk of real medicinal value.

Can you collect and store your colostrum before the birth? How do you do it?

Yes, you can absolutely collect and store your colostrum during pregnancy, once you're getting close to term (usually from 36–37 weeks), unless there's a medical reason not to.
This practice, known as "antenatal colostrum expression", is particularly recommended in certain specific situations: gestational diabetes, a history of neonatal hypoglycemia, a planned caesarean, an expected separation from your baby, or a difficult experience breastfeeding before.

🖐️ How do you do it?

• Wash your hands thoroughly.
• Massage your breast gently, then express one drop at a time, squeezing softly on the area behind the areola.
• Collect the colostrum in a small sterile syringe or a mini sterile container made for the purpose.
• Keep it in the fridge 24 to 48 h or put the labelled syringe/sample in the freezer.

This preparation can be genuinely reassuring, especially if you want to feel capable and well equipped from the moment your baby arrives. To learn more or to pick up the hand-expression technique, do reach out to or get support from a birth doula or a lactation consultant.

What if I have little or no colostrum? Does that mean I won't be able to breastfeed?

Don't worry: most women do produce colostrum, even if you can't see it before the birth. How lactation gets going varies enormously from one person to the next.

Important note: Feeling like you have no colostrum says nothing about whether you'll be able to breastfeed. Some factors can delay or limit how much appears at birth: premature birth, a caesarean, hormonal conditions, significant blood loss, and so on.

Do ask for a personalized assessment from a birth doula or a health professional.

Getting breastfeeding established comes down to putting your baby to the breast often, skin-to-skin contact, and hand or pump stimulation.
There's no such thing as "not enough" colostrum in the first days: your baby's needs are well and truly met, even with just a few millilitres.

Does colostrum matter if I don't want to breastfeed? Can you give only colostrum?

Yes! Even if you choose not to carry on with breastfeeding, giving your baby colostrum in those first hours or first days provides precious immunity. This is sometimes called "golden feeding" or "short-term breastfeeding", and it has scientific consensus behind it on how valuable it is for preventing illness in early life.

💖 Giving colostrum, even for a short while, is a wonderful gift for your baby's health and for how they adjust to life outside the womb.

Your breastfeeding plan is yours to make, but do talk it through with your medical team
* This article does not replace the advice of a professional. Always ask your doctor.

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